A Symposium on Sleep Health Disparities

Posted April 19, 2012

May 14, 2012
7:30am – 2:30pm
Rotunda Room
Joseph B. Martin Conference Center
Harvard Medical School
77 Avenue Louis Pasteur
Boston, MA, 02115

Sleep deficiency and sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, insufficient sleep time, shift work, insomnia) afflict a high proportion of children and adults, and are associated with significant chronic health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart failure, as well as impaired quality of life, behavioral problems, cognitive deficits, increased health care utilization, and increased mortality.

Emerging data indicate that individuals from disadvantaged neighborhoods and racial/ethnic minorities are at increased risk for poor sleep and for sleep disorders due to a variety of environmental exposures, occupational and psychosocial conditions, and physiologic and genetic factors.  Furthermore, insufficient sleep and sleep disorders are often under-recognized and inadequately treated in these groups. 

This symposium will bring together experts in health disparities research, sleep medicine, population health, community outreach, and environmental science to foster new dialogue, consider emerging questions and methodological challenges, and identify important next steps to move forward the field of sleep health disparities.

Presented by the Harvard Catalyst Health Disparities Research Program.

Registration is required and seating is limited. Please contact Health Disparities Program Manager Kathryn Pollenz (E-mail, 617-432-7357) with questions related to this symposium or questions about the Health Disparities Research Program.